Introduction & History Flashcards
What are the 4 building blocks?
- Sugar
- Amino Acids
- Lipids
- Nucleic Acids
Structurally how can you tell a molecule is a sugar?
Cyclohexane ring shape
Structurally how can you tell a molecule is a amnio acid?
Has a carboxyl group on one end of the molecule.
Structurally how can you tell a molecule is a lipid?
Long hydrocarbon chain connected to the molecule.
Structurally how can you tell a molecule is a nucleic acid?
Sugar attached to a base with a phosphate group.
What is the “old” definition of a microbe?
Something that is not visible to the naked eye.
What is the “newer” definition of a micorbe?
Something that exists as a single cell, has DNA as genome, and has the ability to replicate that genome.
What percentage of life on the planet is microbial?
99.99999999%
What percentage of life on this planet is microbial by biomass?
17% (93.2 Gt)
What are the 4 different base types of microbes?
- Bacteria
- Archaea
- Eukaryotes
- Viruses
What are characteristics of Bacteria?
- Single cells
- Asexual reproduction
- Simple Morphology
- Diverse Metabolism
- Pathogens
What are characteristics of Archaea?
- Single cells
- Asexual reproduction
- Simple morphology
- Diverse Metabolism
- No pathogens
What are characteristics of Eukaryotes?
- Most single celled
- Macroorganisms
- Complex morphology
- Pathogens
What are characteristics of Viruses?
- Microbes
- Not microorganisms
- Parasites of all living things
Why should we study microbes from a biological impact standpoint?
- Most abundant organisms on the planet
- They have a huge impact
Why should we study microbes from a basic research standpoint?
- Common evolutionary origin of all organisms
- Microbes are easy to study (model organisms)
Why should we study microbes from a medical importance standpoint?
- Microbes cause many diseases
- Microbes are also beneficial for human health
Infectious diseases cause about ___% mortality world wide?
25
Why should we study microbes from a agricultural importance standpoint?
- Soil health depends on microbes
- Plants depend on microbes for nutrients and defense
- Microbial diseases of plant impact agricultural productivity
- Bird Flu and Turkeys
Why should we study microbes from a applications of biotechnology standpoint?
- Bioremediation and Biodegradation of plastics and toxins
- Genetic engineering
- Bioenergy and Biofuels
- Industrial production of chemicals, enzymes, pharmaceuticals, food additives
- Mining a petroleum recovery
Who is Thionis Philipszoon and what is his claim to fame?
Natural philosopher who was inspired by Hooke’s work Micrographia. He discovered the lens grinder and was the first to observe microorganisms. He wrote letters to the royal society.
What was Thionis Philipszoon’s microscopic observations?
- Spirogyra
- Human Erythrocytes
- Aniamlcules
Who is Robert Koch and what is his claim to fame?
German Scientist that was interested in disease. He developed a solid medium and developed staining and microscopy techniques to isolate microorganisms
What was Walter Hesse’s addition to Robert Koch’s laboratory?
To use agar instead of gelatin in the petri dishes when growing MOs
Originally why did Walter Hesse join Koch’s lab?
To study air quality
What were the issues with using gelatin?
- Melted in the summer time
- Many microbes degraded in gelatin
- Gelatin liquefaction would ruin experiments
What are agar properties?
- Few microbes are able to degrade agar
- It does not melt until 100 degrees C
- One melted it remains at molten temps above 45 degrees C
- After solidification it will not melt again until temp of 100 degrees C is again attained
Why is it important that agar once melted remains molten at temps above 45 degrees C?
Allows the mixing of the agar with heat-sensitive nutrients and microbes
What is the the idea of spontaneous generation?
A vital force given to organic matter can generate life
Describe the Redi Experiment of 1668?
- Raw meat was exposed to air - flys landed on meat - maggots
- Raw meat was covered by cheesecloth - cover removed - maggots
- Raw meat covered by paper - no maggots
Describe John Needham’s contribution to the idea of spontaneous generation? (1745)
Poured broth in a tube - heated the tube (sterilized) - things grew
Endospores survived sterilization (NOT SPONTANEOUS GENERATION)
How did Louis Pasteur end the spontaneous generation debate? (1859)
Pasteur killed endospores by heating up swan neck flask - exposed to air still - nothing grew
Who is responsible for the Germ Theory of disease and how?
Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch
Studied wine souring and fermentation
He discovered it was infection with lactic acid bacteria and proposed the germ theory of disease
What is the Germ Theory of Disease?
Specific microbes cause specific disease
What are some characteristics of small pox?
- Highly infectious
- Mortality rates up to 25% in adults and 40 % in children
- Scarring due to the blister-like pustules
- Life long immunity after infected
Variolation was discovered in the __ century in ____ and _____.
11th
India
China
Describe the discovery of Variolation and its relation to small poxs?
- Liquid from the pustules of smallpox victim was given to other individuals to cause mild infection
- Caused life-long protection against virus
Who brought the variolation practice to Ottoman empire?
Lady Mary Wortley Montgue
Variolation was used in Washington for what?
Continental Army in 1776
What were the disadvantages of variolation?
- Serious skin lesions
- Fatality rate of 1-2%
Who is Edward Jenner and what is his claim to fame?
English Physician who wanted to search for a safer way to help individuals become immune to small pox.
Observed that milkmaids rarely contracted small pox
Jenner inoculated a young patient with small pox, later challenged the boy with smallpox. The boy did not become ill.
Jenner was way ahead of his time
Describe Alexander Flemmings claim to fame and who helped him along the way?
Paul Ehrlich began antimicrobial studies and used Salvarsan to treat soldiers with syphilius (Private 606)
Alexander was motivated to find other antimicrobials
Discovered penicillin
Treated Streptomycin and Tuberculosis
What year was penicillin discovered?
1928
Who is Tom Brock and what is his claim to fame?
US man that vacationed in Yellowstone
Isolated first extreme thermophiles > 80 degrees C
Discovered Thermus Aquaticus
Heat stable - used for PCR
What is special about thermus aquaticus why is it used for PCR?
Capable of growth at 85 degrees C
Tough enzymes
Extremely heat stable
Great to use for PCR
